Enthusiasm

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Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or communication." In current English vernacular the word simply means intense enjoyment, interest, or approval.

Historical usage

Originally, an enthusiast was a person possessed by a god. Applied by the Greeks to manifestations of divine possession, by Apollo (as in the case of the Pythia), or by Dionysus (as in the case of the Bacchantes and Maenads), the term enthusiasm was also used in a transferred or figurative sense. Socrates taught that the inspiration of poets is a form of enthusiasm.

Its uses were confined to a belief in religious inspiration, or to intense religious fervour or emotion. Thus, a Syrian sect of the 4th century was known as the Enthusiasts. They believed that "by perpetual prayer, ascetic practices and contemplation, man could become inspired by the Holy Spirit, in spite of the ruling evil spirit, which the fall had given to him". From their belief in the efficacy of prayer, they were also known as Euchites.

Several Protestant sects of the 16th and 17th centuries were called enthusiastic. During the years that immediately followed the Glorious Revolution, "enthusiasm" was a British pejorative term for advocacy of any political or religious cause in public. Such "enthusiasm" was seen in the time around 1700 as the cause of the previous century's English Civil War and its attendant atrocities, and thus it was an absolute social sin to remind others of the war by engaging in enthusiasm. The Royal Society bylaws stipulated that any person discussing religion or politics at a Society meeting was to be summarily ejected for being an "enthusiast." During the 18th century, popular Methodists such as John Wesley or George Whitefield were accused of blind enthusiasm (i.e. fanaticism), a charge against which they defended themselves by distinguishing fanaticism from "religion of the heart."

Modern usage

In contemporary usage, enthusiasm has lost its meaning that someone is over excited and irritable.

The Enthusiast also refers to the "Type Seven" personality type (not to be confused with the "Type Three"/"Type A" personality) (Daniels & Price 2000). Some who fall into this modern definition of "enthusiasts" are adventurous, constantly busy with many activities with all the energy and enthusiasm of the Puer Aeternus (Peter Pan Complex). At their best they grab life for its different joys and wonders and truly live in the moment but, at their worst, they dash trepidatiously from one new endeavor to another, too scared of disappointment to actually enjoy themselves. Enthusiasts fear being incapable to provide for themselves or to experience life fully.

The term is sometimes used to describe the demeanor of fans of various activities or organizations, ranging from hunting aficionados to wine lovers.

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Enthusiasm ]


W. Parrot Model of Emotions
Primary emotions Secondary emotions Tertiary emotions
Love
Affection adoration, affection, attraction, caring, compassion, fondness, liking, love, romance, sentimentality, tenderness,
Lust arousal, desire, ecstasy, lust, passion, infatuation
Longing longing
Joy
Contentment Contentment, pleasure, happiness
Enthrallment enthronement, rapture
Pride pride, triumph
Optimism eagerness, hope, optimism
Relief relief
Zest enthusiasm, zeal, less, excitement, thrill, exhilarating
Surprise
Surprise amazement, surprise, astonishment
Anger
Irritation aggravation, irritation, education, annoyance, grouchiness, grumpiness
Exasperation exasperating, frustration
Disgust disgust, revulsion, contempt
Rage anger, rage, outrage, fury, rat, hostility, ferocity, hate, loathing, scorn, Spike, faithfulness, dislike, presentment
Envy envy, jealousy
Torment torment
Sadness
Disappointment dismay, disappointment, displeasure
Neglect alienation, isolation, neglect, loneliness, rejection, home sickness, defeat, detection, insecurity, embarrassment, humiliation, insult
Sadness depression, despair, hopelessness, gloom, loneliness, sadness unhappiness, grief, sorrow, woe, Missouri, melancholy
Shame guilt, shame, regret, remorse
Suffering agony, suffering, hurt, malaise
Sympathy pity, sympathy
Fear
Horror alarm, shock, fear, fright, or Caarol, panic, hysteria, mortification
Nervousness apprehension, anxiety, distressed, dread nervousness, phobia, tenseness, uneassiness, tremor, worry, distressed, dread
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